Primary health care in rural Himachal: Coverage and quality issues

An assessment of the factors associated with utilization of primary health care (PHC) services and preference by the people regarding health care providers in relation to their socio economic backgrounds was made in two PHC areas of Hamirpur district in Himachal Pradesh. The utilization of health services discussed through a comparative analysis of four social categories showed that the type of health center selected for minor ailments depended marginally on social class measured in terms of education and income. The major criterion for selecting a health center by a majority of the households was proximity. This highlights the facts that appropriate location ofhealth centers in terms of physical accessibility and density of population is a key mechanism for better outcomes amongst other factors such as proper maintenance and upkeep of health centers and availability of medical equipment.